PLUS

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”

Romans 5:12 “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned”

Isaiah 64:6 “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.”

Psalm 11:3 “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

Recently, Wall Street Journal columnist Barton Swaim wrote a powerful piece entitled “What the Founders Didn’t Trust.” It’s worth a full read (link below).

In stark contrast to the worldview of the enlightenment that spurred the French Revolution:

“The doctrine of original sin – and its implication that humans tend toward rank self-interest and degeneracy – animated every part of the constitutional structure the Founders erected. Arguments about the depth of their religious convictions miss the point. Even the skeptics and deists among them, of whom there were few, happily adopted Christianity’s moral outlook.”

Swaim laments that American society today is regressing into the failed worldviews of the past. Such a shift is eroding our exceptionalism, chipping away at our foundation, and spurring our polarization:

“The postreligious belief in humanity’s essential goodness, together with the loss of any understanding of sin – quaint word! – was supposed to lead to a gentler, less judgmental world. It has done the opposite. Reject the doctrine of man’s depravity if you like; the world’s abundance of depravity still demands explanation. The revolutionaries in France explained it by making clergy, nobles and monarchy the sources of everybody’s woes. The Marxists blamed the bourgeoisie and capitalists. Their descendants today, similarly bereft of any conception of fallenness, pin the world’s ills on people who hold the wrong political views.

When the authors of the Federalist Papers spoke of the ‘passions of men,’ or of men consistently failing to behave like angels, they acknowledged themselves, too, as passion-prone and defective. The old understanding of man as inherently flawed had a humbling and leveling effect, just as the rejection of it has encouraged political actors across the West to treat their opponents as subhuman spreaders of evil. To recover a saner, less embittered politics may be as simple, and as difficult, as recovering the Founding Fathers’ anthropology.”

In this important year of our nation’s birth, it is important to review the foundational elements of our society’s long term success. Our foundation rested on Biblical principle, not on human philosophy. And in order to reestablish a foundation that is truly exceptional, we need to basis it on a proper understanding of human nature.

PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WOULD EMBRACE AND ASSERT A PROPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE SINFUL NATURE OF MAN. This worldview must animate every part of our society’s structure.

ADMIN 1: Please see the Swaim’s opinion piece at:

https://www.wsj.com/opinion/what-the-founders-didnt-trust-787a9419?mod=hp_opin_pos_6

ADMIN 2: I won’t be publishing a PLUS blog next weekend, but please keep praying faithfully for widespread revival in the United States of America while humbly understanding the sinful nature of man!

Joshua 4:1-3, 6-7 “And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying, Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man, And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests’ feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night…That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?  Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over the Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.”

Psalm 33:12 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.”

John Adams wrote the following to his wife Abigail describing his thoughts about our nation’s independence (based on the Second Continental Congress approving a resolution of independence on July 2, 1776):

“The Second Day of July 1776, will be the most memorable Epocha, in the history of America.  I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival.  It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty.  It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade with Shows, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.

You will think me transported with enthusiasm, but I am not. I am well aware of the toil, and blood, and treasure, that it will cost us to maintain this declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet, through all the gloom, I can see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is more than worth all the means, and that posterity will triumph in that day’s transaction, even although we should rue it, which I trust in God we shall not.”

Adams saw that the formation of our new nation was a Day of Deliverance deserving solemn devotion to the Lord our God. He also saw it as a responsibility that would cost greatly but be worth all the toil.

Posterity has indeed triumphed because of their transaction, benefiting from rays of ravishing light and glory.

As we celebrate our nation’s semiquincentennial, we should continue in solemn devotion to the Lord our God for our Day of Deliverance. Yet like our Founders, we should also embrace our real responsibility to toil for the cause of liberty and the continuation of our founding principles.

PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TODAY WOULD TAKE SERIOUSLY OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO SECURE THE BLESSINGS OF LIBERTY. For future generations, it will be worth all the toil.

Exodus 9:1 “Then the LORD said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith the LORD God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me.”

Exodus 13:21-22 “And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.”

Today is our nation’s semiquincentennial – our 250^th birthday! God has blessed us with an amazing national lineage and has provided for us with bountiful peace, provision, protection, and prosperity. How can we use the previous 250 years as a springboard for the next? By following the only thing that is sure to march us away from bondage and towards the promised land. It’s the same recipe for personal and national success that was evident to our founders.

On July 4^th, 1776, in addition to unanimously adopting the Declaration of Independence, the Second Continental Congress formed a committee consisting of Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams to design the seal of our newly declared independent nation. Their designs were ultimately tabled, with a completely new design finally being adopted in 1782.

Nevertheless, their drafts are powerfully revealing as to the Biblically-grounded worldview that dominated the founder’s perspective about the journey away from bondage and towards liberty.

Franklin’s draft displayed images of Moses and God’s people in safety on the far side of the Red Sea, with Pharaoh and his men being overwhelmed by the waters. A pillar of fire is central to this design, designating the source of power and strength for God’s people.

Jefferson created a draft with a similar theme, displaying the children of Israel in the Wilderness. In his depiction, they were led by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

Our founders saw their departure from British rule as an analogue to the Israelites flight from Egypt. Their deliverance and ultimate success would be guided by God’s direction, day and night. It was their ultimate source of wisdom and power, and the only surefire way to escape from bondage in a journey towards the promised land of liberty.

Our ultimate success today depends upon the same!

PLEASE PRAY FOR AMERICAN CHRISTIANS TO DILIGENTLY FOLLOW GOD DURING OUR NEXT 250 YEARS. The founders understood and acknowledged that the only way to escape from bondage and track towards the promised land of liberty was to follow God and trust in Him. On this semiquincentennial celebration, let us rededicate ourselves to the same understanding of those who created this nation 250 years ago.

Psalm 56:11 “In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.”

Psalm 115:9-11 “O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield. Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.”

Matthew 22:34-40 “But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all they mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hand all the law and the prophets.”

Galatians 6:2 “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev shared a previously unknown story about President Ronald Reagan in 2009. During their first meeting together in 1985 and in the presence of only one another and their interpreters, Reagan opened with a seemingly strange question: “What would you do if the United States were suddenly attacked by someone from outer space? Would you help us?” Gorbachev responded immediately: “No doubt about it.” Reagan replied: “We would too.”

These leaders then moved on to more directly relevant business, buoyed by an understanding that they were not absolute enemies and uplifted by a tone of trust. If they could work together in the case of an alien attack, then just maybe there was more common ground to explore. This simple conversation started what became the springboard for a mutually beneficial relationship that changed the world.

Trust is the catalyst for progress. the lynchpin of productivity, and the adhesive of community. It is a force multiplier, a well-being magnifier, and a profit booster. Yet, our cynical society prompts us to doubt God and demonize one another. Distrust has become a barrier to progress, an undercutter of productivity, and a repellant of community. It has become a costly multifaceted drag on society.

God provides the antidote!

It starts by trusting in Him, while avoiding an attitude of fear and cynicism. We are to love the Lord and love one another, providing mutual support by bearing one another’s burdens and fulfilling the law of Christ. And we must always remember, that none of us are absolute enemies and our relationships can be uplifted by a tone of trust.

PLEASE PRAY THAT THE TRUST OF AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WOULD BE A MODEL OF THE LOVE OF CHRIST AND THE TRUTHS OF GOD’S WORD. It seems fanciful and extreme, but no more than world leaders considering an alien attack. And maybe, just maybe, it can be the springboard to change the world!

ADMIN: The Reagan/Gorbachev story came from Ian Bremmer’s “The Power of Crisis”

Ephesians 6:10-18 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rules of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always, with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints”

James 1:14-15 “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth fort death.”

A few weeks ago at a Christian businessman’s luncheon in Houston, I was honored to be the keynote speaker. After my comments, I opened it up to questions and one of them stuck out among the rest:

You are a national security expert who is interviewed regularly about the challenges in the Middle East. One of the things that has been extra difficult to deal with is the hundreds of drones fired at U.S. forces and our allies and partners. What spiritual situations does that situation parallel?

Wow, pretty heady stuff!

That morning I had seen a mainstream news article entitled: “Scaling Sin” that lamented the fact that once-forbidden vices are now “ubiquitous, digital, and spreading at a pace that has outstripped the country’s social and regulatory guardrails.” American society is getting bombarded by drones of sin.

My response fell back to the basics – intentionally putting on the whole armor of God by starting each day with prayer, Bible reading, and a commitment to serve God. Without the right defenses, an adversary’s threats are going to get through to their target.

Additionally, there is a level of vigilance, diligence, and readiness that is also required. We often steel ourselves against the ballistic missiles of sin, but pay little attention to the small drones of sin. Yet, both can do major damage. Moreover, the accumulated impact of small attacks can have a significant impact on our readiness to accomplish God’s mission. Temptation can lead to lust, which can lead to sin, which can lead to death.

We must stand against all of it!

PLEASE PRAY THAT AMERICAN CHRISTIANS WOULD PROVIDE THE SPIRITUAL AND PRACTICAL REMEDIES FOR A NATION THAT IS SCALING SIN. It is time for us to stand strong against threats of all sizes with vigilance and the whole amour of God.

NOTE: Please see the article described above here:

https://www.axios.com/2026/05/12/america-gambling-weed-deepfakes?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosam&stream=top